Golf Digest photographer Ben Walton reveals how he documented Bryson DeChambeau’s viral 13th hole escape at the 2024 Masters in real time.
One of the most memorable moments from the 2024 Masters Tournament came courtesy of Bryson DeChambeau and his unconventional approach to the 13th hole at Amen Corner. The image of DeChambeau holding a signpost over his shoulder like a trophy became instantly iconic, and now Golf Digest photographer Ben Walton has shared the fascinating story behind how he captured it.
Setting the Stage at Amen Corner
Walton was positioned on Amen Corner when DeChambeau stepped up to the 13th tee after birdieing the 12th hole to take the solo lead. What happened next was anything but routine. DeChambeau crushed a powerful drive into the pine straw directly where Walton was standing, leaving the ball nestled against a rope line where patrons were lined up.
“I had lined up a frame that I thought he was going to hit a punch shot back into the 13th fairway,” Walton explained. “Usually that’s what players do in this situation.” Instead, DeChambeau had other plans.
An Unconventional Solution
When DeChambeau arrived at his ball, he immediately directed volunteers to move the rope line. But rather than attempting the standard recovery shot, he pointed toward the 14th fairway and declared his intention to play over the heads of hundreds of patrons. “Without hesitation, he’s like, I’m going that way,” Walton recalled.
DeChambeau then walked down to the 14th fairway to assess his line. On his way back to the ball, he encountered a signpost at the corner of the 13th hole—something that had always been there. According to Walton, in typical DeChambeau fashion, he simply hoisted the sign out of the ground and placed it over his shoulder, looking around as if he owned the place.
“I’ve captured this picture of him looking like Jesus holding the cross over his shoulder and everybody around him staring at him like, what is going on?” Walton said of the iconic moment.
Speed and Execution
After repositioning the signpost, DeChambeau walked back to his ball—about 100 yards away—and grabbed a five iron. He successfully hooked the shot around the trees toward the 14th fairway, landed it on the green, and made the putt for a birdie to extend his lead to two strokes.
Walton’s photo work didn’t stop once the shot landed. “I thought, that’s a moment, that’s unique, I need to move this to the media center as quickly as possible,” he said. Credit to Golf Digest’s social media team meant the image reached the internet in remarkable time. “This was probably on the internet five minutes after it occurred. I don’t think he even made the birdie putt before the world saw this picture.”
The moment exemplified why DeChambeau continues to captivate golf audiences—not just with his exceptional play, but with his willingness to tackle challenges in ways few others would attempt.
This article was created with the help of AI and editorially reviewed. Report an issue